Union County Commission rejected a proposal developed by the Election Commission and reviewed by the Redistricting Committee.
The proposal would have reduced the 19 percent out of compliance to being in compliance of 10 percent or less variation for district representation.
The plan moved 209 people from 1st to 6th District, left 2nd, 5th and 7th as is, and moved 221 people from 3rd to 4th. The number of districts nor the number of commissioners from each district would not change.
This plan depended on the proposed construction that would result in over 200 persons moving into the 7th District. The motion needed eight votes to pass, but received only five with Danny Cooke, Bill Cox, Earl Cox, Gary England, Dawn Flatford and Debra Keck voting against the proposal.
Another proposal by Bill Cox would move 99 people from the 3rd District to the 2nd District and put all in compliance, but was not brought to a vote. With no meeting planned for December, Commission will need to approve a plan in November to meet the December 31 deadline.
Another issue that caused a considerable amount of discussion involved the election of constables.
Commissioners Flatford and Lay noted that most constables were a liability even though they post a bond and carry liability insurance and have minimal training. The sheriff no longer has a need for them to serve papers since there are paid process servers to do that job. A motion to abolish the constable position effective with the 2022 General Election needed a 2/3 majority or 10 votes to reach approval. Then to abolish the position the motion would have to be approved at a consecutive meeting. But with only 11 commissioners present, the motion failed when three voted against the motion and one abstained.
Maynardville Mayor Ty Blakely and the Maynardville City Manager appeared before commission to clear up some questions regarding the water line extensions that the county had helped fund. Maynardville had done a survey of some 85 to 90 houses on Hurricane Hollow Road and Lambdin Road that resulted in extension of water lines to these roads not being financially feasible for now. Only four houses on Lambdin Road are under the current Community Development Block Grant funds. The current project is estimated to be completed by the end of November with the installation of some service lines and meters on Circle Road and AJ Lane.
Union County continues to administer more than $4M in grants according to Mayor Jason Bailey. In addition, he plans to apply for several million dollars in grants that will be available in the early part of 2022. By summer, Union County could see some $10M in grants flowing to fund improvements in education, recreation, safety, and health.
Currently Mayor Bailey's staff is gathering quotes for a hood in the jail kitchen and a generator for the courthouse and the jail. Revenues from the Hotel/Motel Occupancy tax and sales tax continue to increase.
Sales tax revenues have risen by 66 percent since September of 2019 with some $123,302.74 collected this September. The occupancy tax for September was $8,629.65.
In other business, Commission approved notaries, budget amendments, a resolution to transfer funds from General Purpose School Fund 141 to Federal Programs 142, an engineering agreement for a bridge on Corryton Luttrell Road, and four notaries.
Five commissioners including Joyce Meltabarger, Becky Munsey, Jody Smith, Jeff Chesney, and Janet Holloway were absent from the meeting due to mostly medical or health issues.. Commission approved a motion by Sidney Jessee and a second by Gary England to accept the resignation of Jody Smith from the 2nd district for personal reasons. Plans are to appoint a person to fill the vacancy at the next meeting on November 22.